Disposable ash tray and cigarette snuffing device



y 1 LO ELLEN D. KIRBY 2,887,218

DISPOSABLE ASH TRAY AND CIGARETTE SNUFFING DEVICE Filed March 5, 1956 INVENTOR. L0 ELLEN a. K/REY Nam ATTORNEY United States Patent F DISPOSABLE ASH TRAY AND CIGARETTE SNUFFING DEVICE Lo Ellen D. Kirby, Tuolumne, Calif. Application March 5, 1956, Serial No. 569,489 3 Claims. (Cl. 206-57) This invention relates to a device for snufling out cigarettes while leaving themundamaged so that they can be relighted. The same device also serves as a portable ash tray and as a support for lighted cigarettes.

One object of the present invention is to provide a package or book containing a plurality of thin envelopes, each of which is adapted to serve as a portable and disposable ash tray, cigarette support, and cigarette snulfer.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lightweight cigarette-snuifing and ash-tray device which takes up no more room than a book of paper safety matches, which indeed it resembles in general appearance.

Another object of the invention is to provide an article resembling a pocket match book and forming a book of removable and disposable ash receptacles, each of which uses the book cover for a base.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cigarette ash tray and snulfer comprising a plurality of elements held in a book like a pocket match book, each of which can be disposed of without spilling the contents.

Another object of the invention is to provide a type of cigarette snuffer that can extinguish a cigarette rapidly and without having to compress the cigarette during the snuffing.

Another object of the invention is to provide a .device for extinguishing a cigarette without making it taste stale or bitter when relighted.

A furtherobject of the invention is to provide a selfsupporting,.shape retaining cigarette holder that can be used when and where ordinary ash trays cannot be used.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cigarette extinguisher that holds the ashes so that they cannot be blown away.

Another object is to provide a combination of a disposable receptacle with a permanent support stand, for the uses already mentioned.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description of a preferred embodiment presented in accordance with 35 USC 112.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of an article embodying the principles of the present invention and resembling in appearance a pocket book of safety matches, the article being shown in its closed position.

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the article of Fig. 1, shown with the cover open and one of the envelope-like elements lifted up.

Fig. 3 is a similar view of the article of Figs. 1 and 2, showing the cover re-closed with one element left outside and supporting itself upright, with its envelope opened and its top flap bent back to form a holder for a cigarette shown in dot-dash lines.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 illustrating how a cigarette may be snuffed out; a persons hands being indicated in dot-dash lines.

Fig. 5 is a view in elevation and in section of the article shown as in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a view in perspective of a modified form of 2,887,21 Patented May 19, 1959 the invention, where an envelope similar to that of Figs.

1-5 is combined with a support stand.

F Fig. 7 is a view in vertical section of the device of The article 10 of this invention may be called a book, for it resembles a pocket book of safety matches and is preferably of about the same shape, preferably a little larger than the commonest size of match book and an equally suitable advertising medium. The book 10 comprises a plurality of elements 11 contained in and secured to a cover 12. The cover 12 may be made from thick paper like that used for safety match books and is folded and formed in the same general manner to provide a bottom foundation or base 13, a top cover flap 14, and a short catch flap 15, in which the cover flap 14 is engaged when closed.

Bound within the cover 12 are the plurality of cigarette snuffer-ash-tray-holding elements 11. Each element 11 is preferably constructed from metal foil or other non-inflammable, flexible, and self-supportable material. The elements 11 are secured between the base 13 and the catch flap 15 by one or more staples 16, and each element 11 utilizes the base 13 as a support, in a manner to be seen.

Each element 11 comprises an envelope portion 20, with its lower end 21 stapled in place, and a top tab or flap portion 22. The envelope 20 is normally flat (Figs. 1 and 2) but is easily opened (Fig. 3) by poking in ones finger. The tab or top flap 22 is capable of being bent back and when bent back is still self-supporting, just as the envelope 20, once opened, will stay open until flattened, because of the flexibility and self-supporting nature of the metal foil. In place of pure metal foil a suitable non-inflammablelaminate may be used, provided it meets the other requirements of being self-supporting and flex ible.

The elements 11 may be made from tubular stock, out or split open along the upper side edges 23 to form the rear flap or tab 22 and a front flap 24, which maybe folded down once or twice or more over the front of the envelope 20, as shown, either when manufactured or by the user. The lower end 21 may be open as made, being closed in anyevent where it abuts the cover 12, or it may be sealed closed. Alternatively, theelements 11 may be made from two strips heat sealed, cemented or otherwise closed along their edges to make the envelope 20.

As Fig. 1 shows, the book 10 is normally carried in a closed position in ones pocket. When the book 10 is used, it is opened in the usual manner by releasing the cover flap 14- from the catch flap 15. Then one element 11 may be lifted up. Because of its self-supporting nature, the element 11 does not drop back down when released but remains standing, and the cover 14 may be closed below it. The staple 16 is preferably spaced away from the free edge 25 of the locking flap 15 a sulficient distance to enable this replacement of the cover 14. The element 11 is then outside the book 10, but still supported by it.

By bending the top tab 22 back as shownin Fig. 3 a concave support 26 is formed suitable for holding a cigarette 27. The book 10 may then be placed on top of a table or on ones lap or held in ones hand, and the element 11 will remain standing as shown in Fig. 3 and will support not only itself but a lighted cigarette 27.

For using the element 11 as an ash tray, the envelope 20 is opened simply by poking ones finger in its upper end. The article supports itself in this position, and the ashes may be shaken from a cigarette into the envelope 20 that constitutes the ash tray.

For snuffing out a lighted cigarette 27 the lighted end 28 is placed into the envelope or pocket 20 and then both sides 29, 29 of the envelope 20 are pinched around the cigarette 27, as shown in Fig. 4. The cigarette 27 is not squeezed; the snufiing is done by keeping oxygen away from it. As a result, the cigarette 27 is undamaged and may be relighted if and when desired without tasting bitter or unpleasant to the smoker.

. Thus, it will be seen that a cigarette may be quickly extinguished and that an ash receptacle and cigarette holder are provided with a base and a self-supporting element. Therefore it is possible for a smoker to carry an ash tray. with him anywhere and dispose of the ashes without getting his clothes dirty or scattering the ashes about.

When the envelope 20 has been filled with ashes or butts or when it is no longer suitable for continued use, the flap 22 may be folded over the envelope 20 and the envelope may be torn out from the book 10, wadded up and thrown away, and a new one may be made available by the same process. Since the article is inexpensive. and

can. be used as an advertising medium, there is no great need to economize on the number of elements 11 used up, and they can be thrown away whenever desired.

A modified form of the invention is shown in Figs. 6 and 7. Here a receptacle 30 is provided with heat-sealed or otherwise secured edges 31 providing an envelope 32 with a pair of flexible support flanges 33. The lower end 34, which may or may not be sealed closed, may be bent out at 35 at right angles and inserted in a plastic, metal, wood or other type of base 36, through an opening 37. Magnetic metal may be employed, if desired, for support on automobile and truck dashboards, or the bar 36 may rest on any flat surface. The receptacles 30 may be supplied flat or shaped, as desired. They may also be supported in other ways, as by railway car ash receptacles, or by themselves, though in the latter instance they are somewhat less stable.

The drawings necessarily had to exaggerate the thickness of the very thin metal foil material. Actually, of course, the material is very thin, and the front flap 24 adds very little to the total thickness and gives the appearance of being completely flat. If there were any depth of fold to hold the sealing surface out, it would prevent the cigarette from being sniped quickly. The thin material makes possible rapid sniping without noticeable heat, which would not be the case if the envelope were left open.

The safety of the device can hardly be overemphasized, nor can the rapidity of its sniping action, which is practically instantaneous. The device presents no fire hazard whatever and is completely safe.

To those skilled in the art to which this invention relates, many changes in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of the invention will suggest themselves without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The disclosures and the description herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be in any sense limiting.

I claim:

1. An article of manufacture, comprising a book having a paper cover comprising a single sheet folded to provide a base, a cover flap, and a catch flap, and a plurality of initially fiat metal foil envelopes with a portion adjacent one end secured between said base and said catch flap, each envelope being formed of metal foil and being individually disposable, flexible, self-supporting, and shape retaining, and having an opening adjacent the end away from said secured end and having a portion extending beyond the opening to constitute a flap, whereby said envelope may be poked open to provide an ash receptacle and cigarette snufier, and its said flap may be bent back and depressed in a curve adapted to hold a lighted cigarette support.

2. The structure according to claim 1 including a second flap folded downwardly one or more times to reenforce the envelope.

3. A disposable cigarette holder, snutlt'er, and ash and butt receptacle, comprising a match-book-type cover in which are secured the bottom ends of a plurality of initially flat open-top envelopes each being of self-supporting, shape retaining manually bendable metal foil, each envelope including a flap extending up from said open top, said flap providing, when flat, an apron to direct ashes into the envelope, when the latter is gaped, and, when bent back, a cigarette supporting member, and, when bent over said open top, a closure for said envelope, each said envelope being individually removable for disposition.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,101,107 Tschopik June 23, 1914 1,354,810 Erickson Oct. 5, 1920 1,733,998 Rosen Oct. 29, 1929 2,372,836 Levin Apr. 3, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS 60,617 Netherlands Feb. 16, 1948 747,162 Great Britain Mar. 28, 1956 

